Nobody knows when sickness knocks on the door. But when it does, we must take precautions by seeking medication to ensure we are healthy. But some of those doctor visits have turned out to be memorable experiences for some people.
On Reddit, these patients openly shared their encounters during doctor’s appointments, capturing the interest of fellow Redditors. While some of these anecdotes are hilarious, others are not-so-funny. Here’s what they had to say.
Comments have been edited for grammar and clarity.
1. Blue-Handed Patient’s Unusual Condition Turned To Be Blue Jeans
u/raybanomics: Not me, but my roommate went to the doctor because his hands were turning blue. He was born premature and has always had horrible circulation. So he goes to the doctor, who is so puzzled about what’s happening that she calls to consult other doctors.
She returns to the room with alcohol swabs, and the blue starts coming off. Apparently, he had not washed his new jeans, and the ink kept rubbing off on his hands every time he put them in his pocket.
2. Going Commando Led to an Awkward Encounter
u/olialm1: I had my physical examination and forgot to wear underwear. I pretty much go commando all the time unless I’m wearing a short dress, so when my doctor told me to “put the gown on but keep your bra and underwear on,” I facepalmed.
When he went to lift my gown so he could feel around on my stomach, I turned bright red and said, “I’m not wearing underwear,” to which he responded by giving me this weird look.
3. When a Cough Turned into a Burp
u/kev0h: Way back when I was in peewee football, I had to go for a sports physical. I was pretty young then. When the doctor told me to turn my head and cough, I panicked because I hadn’t coughed in a while, so instead, I burped.
4. The Doctors Clashed over Shorter Limb
u/epona92: My left leg is slightly shorter than my right leg (approx. 1.5 cm, so nothing too drastic), and when I was younger, I had to see a specialist because I also had scoliosis.
The doctor was older and German and had three international interns: one from South Africa, one from Mexico, and one from China.
After taking x-rays, the German doctor returned and informed me that my right leg was shorter than my left, pointing to the hip displacement in the x-ray. I corrected him, but he insisted that my right leg was shorter.
The South African came to my defense and pointed out that he was looking at the X-ray backward. The German doctor didn’t believe any of it, and their argument got so heated that the Mexican and Chinese doctors excused themselves.
5. The Motorcycle Mishap Became a Timeless Family Tale
u/TheOnlyOne87: I was about five years old at the time. We had a big field beside our house where my two older brothers and I rode our mini motorcycle around. Anyway, I crashed the bike and cut my leg open pretty badly.
So, I was taken to the local doctor for stitches. He pulled down my little trousers, and I wasn’t wearing any underwear. Twenty years later, I still have the scar on my leg. And my lack of underwear is still a regular family anecdote.
6. The Unexpected Encounter with Doctor Who Compared Me to John Cusack
u/BosskHogg: A few years back, I ended up getting the flu. My wife took me to a 24-hour emergency clinic near our house. The doctor on duty was in her mid-30s and kind of cute.
My wife was in the waiting room, and I was with the doctor in a patient room when the doctor turned to me and said, “You look just like John Cusack” (which I do).
I told her I get that all the time, but she kept repeating it, and she began sounding creepy. So I’m lying on the bed, trying my hardest not to pass out, and the doctor begins playing with my hair, talking about John Cusack before my wife walks in.
7. Baby Talk Blunder: The OB’s Humorous Comment
u/LuckieMotor: When I was newly pregnant with my daughter, I was at my OB’s office for a pelvic exam. After I stirrup up, my doctor checks my vagina and says, “Oh, you’ll be fine if you have a big baby; there’s PLENTY of room in here.”
I’m sure she meant that I have a wide pelvic arch and would have no trouble with a vaginal delivery, but what I heard was something entirely different.
8. My Comment Turned To Be a Compliment
u/pickanotherusername: I was ten when I was taken to the emergency room with a ruptured appendix. They had trouble diagnosing my problem and sent me in for an enema. The doctor was doing his thing. So I said, “You must be the least popular doctor in the hospital.” He responded,” I don’t get many thank-you cards.”
9. An Awkward Encounter with an Attractive Doctor
u/FruitF***ing: Well, it’s not that awkward, but it was April Fool’s Day, and right before I went to class, I decided to go dominate the toilet. To my surprise, the toilet paper was all red.
By this time, I’m freaking out going to the doctor, thinking I bled out of my butt. I go to an urgent care and pay my $100 fee. A very attractive doctor has me bend over to look at my buttocks. That was the awkward part for me.
She says I’m probably okay if I didn’t feel any pain. An hour later, I’m sitting at home wondering if I’m going to die. I realized the night before I got very drunk, smoked, and ate a whole bag of flaming hot Cheetos to myself. Turns out that eating a bunch of those turns your poop red.
10. I Thought Taste Buds Were Something Else
u/va_bene: I had a sore throat, and when I tried to get a good look at it in the mirror, I noticed these large, pink spots all over the very back of my tongue.
I spent a week fretting over it, wondering what they were and why they weren’t going away until my mom worried enough that she went with me to my doctor.
Upon examining my throat and tongue, he pronounced what I saw were my taste buds. I have never seen my doctor, an incredibly stoic man, smile so wide. My family is never going to let me live it down.
11. A Fart Mishap Left the Doctor Asking Questions
u/FearlessEyes: I went to the doctor when I was about eight months pregnant. At that point in my pregnancy, I was VERY gassy, and if I tried to hold it in, it would get painful after a while.
While I was sitting in the doctor’s office, I felt like I had to fart. I held it in for a while, thinking that if I did fart, the doctor would be in at any moment. Fifteen minutes passed, and nothing.
So I decided to let it go. The tiniest little fart ever, but it stunk really bad. Thirty seconds later, the doctor walked in and asked me what that smell was.
12. This Took a Different Turn
u/PalmerKid: When I turned 30, I suddenly became a hypochondriac. I thought that EVERYTHING was cancer or worse. So, I’m seeing my doctor for an annual physical, and I mentioned that I was having some pains in the left side of my chest.
I asked, “I know this is rare, but could it be breast cancer?” (I’m male, btw). The doctor checked around seriously and then, with a straight face, asked me, “Does the pain hurt worse when you have your period?” That was pretty much the end of my year of hypochondria.
13. The Awkward Hug Fail
u/AnalogDigit2: I hadn’t seen my doctor in over a year, and he met me outside the examination room before I went in. He spread his arms, and I was a little surprised.
I started to move in for a hug before he stepped back a little and made a clearer indication that he was just politely gesturing me to enter the room before him. Sheepfaced, I put my head down and marched into the room.
14. The Hospital Visit Turned Emotional
u/lieshy: I had a full-fledged panic attack when they sent me to the “renal” unit at the hospital. I cried for an hour because I didn’t want a bum exam. The best part of the story? I was seventeen years old. I should probably have paid more attention in class, I guess.
15. My Sports Injuries Turned to a Normal Conversation
u/KakunaUsedHarden: So, not a particular incident, but I get a lot of sports injuries that hurt so bad until I see a doctor. But the appointment ends with a normal conversation anytime I visit the doctor.
I say, “It hurts so much!.” The doctor responds, “Does it hurt when I do this?” I reply, “No.” Despite additional pressure and questioning, I consistently say it does not hurt. The doctor concludes, “I think you’ll be fine.”
16. I Accidentally Kissed the Doctor’s Hand
u/reedyforkmike: I took my son (one year old) to the doctor to get checked out for an ear infection. He got upset as the doctor examined him. I’m holding him on my lap the entire time, whispering in his ear and trying to keep him calm.
As the doctor goes to look in his ear, I comfort my son by kissing his head. Unfortunately, the doctor had just placed his hand there to hold him in place.
I gently press my lips right on the guy’s hand! I pulled away, didn’t say a word, and we both pretended like it never happened.
17. From Giggles to Gas
u/[deleted]: I had pimples on my face when I was about fourteen and looked like a human pizza. My mom took me to the doctor, and everything started normally.
The doctor was an oldish lady in her 50s; she seemed nice. Then something made me lose it when she started making hand gestures to her crotch, saying. “Do you get any pains around here?”
You can probably guess what would happen; with the sense of humor of a fourteen-year-old, I started laughing so hard I tried to stop myself by coughing. But the coughs caused me to fart.
18. The Holiday Hymns Added a Merry Twist to Gynecologist Visit
u/gummbee: I’m a student, so I always make my appointments for winter break. For the season, they play Christmas songs throughout the office.
Near the end of my appointment, it was time for my pap smear test. I climb on the table and open wide when a choir begins singing, “Oh, Come all the faithful.”
19. The Quirky Dentist’s Chair That Gave Me Giggles
u/doh_ramey: I’ve never done anything incredibly embarrassing, but there is one thing that gives me anxiety about going to the dentist. I don’t mind them fiddling around with my mouth, and I can stand the twinges, scrapes, and more.
The problem is that when the dentist/hygienist pumps the chair lever, it rises in little jumps. I can’t help it, so I start to giggle. I know it was cute when I was six, but now I’m twenty-six, making me look very strange.
20. Wisdom Teeth Aftermath
u/WhiskeyandWine: I was under anesthesia after having my wisdom teeth removed. While waiting for my ride in the not-so-empty lobby, I vaguely remember seeing someone else with a bunch of gauze hanging out of their mouth; seeing this, I started to laugh at them.
Sure enough, my friend arrived to see me laughing at myself in the mirror. My friend asked the receptionist if I was alright, to which she responded, “Oh yeah, he has been like that for more than five minutes now.”
21. The Day a ‘Zit’ Took Center Stage
u/bad_pie: I had a small lump on the side of my chin. I thought maybe it was a pimple. It was there for a few months, so I got nervous and went to the doctor.
He looks at it for a few seconds and then squeezes it hard. It Hurt pretty bad. Turns out it was a zit. When it popped, he said, “Woah! It hit the wall!” Then, pointing at the wall, he says, “We’ll sanitize that later.”
22. Strange smell
Deletes user: My husband started to smell really bad… I mean, REEK. I made an appointment for him with the urologist and decided to go with him for support. He went into the doctor’s office and the doctor closed the door.
Five minutes later, the doctor comes out and his face turns red when he sees me.Doc (barely holding back laughter): You might want to go in and see for yourself.
Me: ‘Doctor, what’s going on? Why are you laughing?’Then my husband comes out. He: Honey… I’m not sure how to say this… But I’ve been cheating on you.”
His words hit me like a freight train, and I felt my heart shatter into pieces. I looked at him, searching for any sign of the man I thought I knew, but all I saw was a stranger. The doctor, realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly excused himself, leaving us in an awkward, painful silence.
I stood there, devastated, as the truth of his infidelity and the reason behind his sudden change in odor sank in.
That smell was caused by a venereal disease, which the doctor diagnosed in him, and he knew that I didn’t have it, so the betrayal was obvious. That day opened my eyes to everything.
In the healthcare industry, where vulnerability meets professionalism, tales of unexpected and amusing encounters during doctor’s visits serve as a testament to the people’s experiences. These stories remind us that even in the midst of discomfort, laughter and unexpected moments can emerge, turning appointments into unforgettable stories.